Many sports require activities that could arguably be described as explosive; a pitcher throwing a pitch in baseball, a player taking a slap shot in hockey and many more. Although strength training is a good way to build the muscles needed for these types of actions, medicine ball training is becoming more and more popular. It is also a great program that fitness enthusiasts can include in their daily routine, at home or at the gym. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayA medicine ball is a large weighted sphere that adds weight resistance to activities when performed using the medicine ball. Training with a medicine ball is sometimes preferable to strength training because strength exercises are very rigid in their technique whereas training with a medicine ball is a little more fluid, allowing a person to imitate the actions that she could do during her sport during her workout. The ball exercise program does not have to be difficult and, indeed, with careful planning on the part of the instructor and hard work on the part of the athlete, a 45 minute program can be designed that will not only work all the muscles that the athlete/fitness enthusiast needs, but will also give them a great workout that will not only benefit them, but will also be safe. It is extremely important, just like with bodybuilding, to start with warm-up exercises. These may include stretching or light cardio, but are necessary to prevent workout-related injuries. Likewise, a post-workout recovery period is necessary to avoid muscle cramps as well as other potential injuries. When it comes to training, the actual movements performed are somewhat flexible, but some things need to be maintained. in mind. Firstly, different weights of medicine balls should be kept and the athlete should start with the lightest weights and gradually increase to the heavier ones during training. Second, alternate body parts (such as arms or legs) should be exercised. Medicine ball training and the exercises performed should mimic real-life movements in order to reap the full benefits. Finally, try to organize the workout so that you start with the easiest exercises, with fewer movements, and progress to those with more movement and intensity. Before we move on to some of the more specific exercise techniques, there are a few safety rules. concerns that need to be addressed. Medicine balls are bulky and heavy and for this reason, if not handled correctly, they can lead to potential injuries. Always make sure to fully extend your arms when throwing the ball and have a strong, supported stance with your feet firmly on the ground during a throw or catch. Also, if you're new to medicine ball training, don't overextend yourself; such excessive extension can result in serious injury. Generally speaking, the previous paragraph applies general technical points to all exercises. Below are some general exercises that can be performed during training. EXERCISE Torso Twists: Two athletes stand back to back and pass the ball to each other, twisting their torsos to do so. Curls: Can work a variety of muscles, but the two most common are the hamstrings..